Can I Get a Passport with a DUI?

By
Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry, Inc.
|April 06, 2015

When people are convicted of drunk driving offenses, they face a range
of restrictions, including a suspended license and the possibility of
not being able to drive without an Ignition Interlock Device. Considering
that your license can be suspended for a DUI conviction, it’s natural
to think that a passport may be affected as well, however, that’s
not typically the case.

Generally, your ability to get a passport should not be affected by your
DUI conviction. In other words, people’s passport privileges aren’t
automatically revoked because they are convicted of driving under the
influence, even if it was a felony DUI.

Still, you can technically forfeit the right to obtain a passport after
a DUI conviction. For example, a person can be forbidden to get a passport
as a result of a court order, or as a condition of probation or parole.
Additionally, if the court believes that a defendant is a flight risk,
or facing a felony-related subpoena, then the court could have their passport
privileges revoked.

Restrictions Travelling to Other Countries

While DUI defendants can usually obtain a U.S. passport without any problem,
they can face restrictions when it comes to travelling to certain countries.
Canada for example, reserves the right to deny entry to foreigners who
have a criminal record history of any kind.

Even if you have a valid U.S. passport, as long as you have a misdemeanor
or felony conviction for DUI, Canada may not let you visit the country;
Mexico may refuse too. If you have a felony DUI on your record and you
travel to Canada or Mexico by ship, you won’t be allowed to disembark
onto foreign soil. So, while you can obtain a U.S. passport, you may have
no place to go.

Although your DUI shouldn’t affect your ability to obtain a passport,
it is wise for you to consult with an Orange County DUI defense attorney
from the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry, Inc. to fight the charges
and the many other penalties at stake.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.